Da jian zhong tang
gan jiang 12 ren shen 6 shu jiao 6 yi tang 15
For great cold pain of the heart and chest, with vomiting and inability to eat or drink, with cold in the abdomen, surging upwards and raising the skin, as if one is able to see the movement of head and feet, there is pain above and below with inability to approach, da jian zhong tang governs.
It treats great internal cold causing cold contractions. It is a yang formula in that it warms and clears cold but it contains yin herbs to prevent damage.
Gan jiang, Zingiberis rhizoma, dried is warm (or hot) pungent and astringent. Gan jiang is the main herb to warm the tai yin level and treat excessive dampness by introducing yang ming dryness in tai yin dampness.
Gan jiang is used to warm the cold that is causing contractions. It is working together with shu jiao in this regard.
Ren shen, Ginseng radix is sweet tonifying and nourishing of the spleen, lungs, heart, and kidney. It nourishes yin fluids and therefore is the foremost qi and yin tonic.
Ren shen and gan jiang are used together in li zhong wan to tonify and warm the center.
Shu Jiao, Pericarpum zanthoxyli bungeani is pungent dispersing of the liver and pericardium blood and the ministerial fire in the san jiao. It is pungent dispersing of the heart and kidneys.
Shu jiao directly warms the Fire element. It works with gan jiang in warming cold that is causing cramping. Shu jiao clears internal cold to stop the cramping and pain.
Yi tang, Maltose is used in taxation formulas because of its warm sweet nature that nourishes the nutritive and calms the internal wind causing cramping due to deficiency.
Yi tang warms the center and tonifies qi. Its sweet taste guides the herbs to the center